FArmed Animal Investigations

Officer Todd Stosuy, Field Services ManagerSanta Cruz County Animal Shelter

Farmed Animal Investigations

Santa Cruz County California

Understanding species specific farmed animal needs (food, space, social lives)

Cattle, sheep/goats, chickens/turkeys and rabbits

Large scale investigations and seizures

Politics surrounding farmed animals

Farmed Animal investigations

Check State Laws - some states have agriculture exemptions

Contact USDA or State Veterinarian - Joint Inspections

Do your own research on farmed animal care

Have a trusted farmed animal expert on speed dial (vet, sanctuary, etc)

Abuse, Neglect or Cruelty

Cattle - Ideal Life

Average lifespan is 18 to 22 years

Water - 10 to 20 gallons a day (dependent on weather conditions)

Ruminants (stomachs have 4 chambers) - Hay or pasture grazing ideal (2% of body weight per day)

Remove objects/poison plants from pasture

Cattle - Ideal Life

Herd animals

Grazing (5-10 acres per cow), rotating pastures

Well ventilated barn to protect from weather and temperature

Routine health checks and hoof trimmings

Cattle - life on a feedlot

Overcrowded conditions

Poor diet (high energy grains)

Poor or no pasture

Lack of routine health care

Little or no protection from the elements

Live in own urine and feces

Cattle - Investigations

Common Medical Issues-

Bloat - distention of rumen, labored breathing

Hoof rot

Mastitis

Parasites

Medical Issues

Cattle

Cattle

Cattle

Cattle

Seizure

At the Shelter

Sheep / Goats - ideal life

Ruminants - 8 hours grazing per day

Average life span 12-14 years

Minerals (no copper for sheep)

Fresh Clean Water Always Available

Pasture - Clover and Mixed Grasses

Sturdy shelter

Sheep / Goats - life on a feedlot

Similar to cows- overcrowded, lack of routine health care and hoof trimmings, poor pasture, etc

Same basic medical issues as cows

Sheep / Goats - Feedlot

At the Shelter

Sheep / Goats - Feedlot

Downer - Feedlot

Feedlot

Owner charged with multiple counts of animal neglect, including having a downed animal at the facility

Convicted, but only had to pay a fine

Facility still in operation

Ingenious Goat

Chickens / turkeys - ideal life

Average lifespans range from 3-8 years

Commercial grains promote fast growth

Chickens- ideal to feed whole corn, oats and sunflower seeds, greens and chicken scratch

Turkeys - ideal to feed chicken scratch (cracked corn, oats and wheat) with added sunflower seeds, Timothy hay pellets and greens

Chickens / turkeys - ideal life

Shelter should be predator proof and include nesting boxes

Clean fresh water

Should have space to walk around, hunt for bugs, open wings, etc

Chickens / Turkeys life as a commodity

Debeaked

Overcrowded conditions

Lack of routine health maintenance

Poor nutrition

Bumblefoot

Chickens / Turkeys

Chickens / Turkeys

Chickens / Turkeys

Rabbits - Ideal Life

Average lifespan 5 to 7 years

Fresh water and salt licks

Unlimited fresh grass or Timothy hay, a variety of fresh vegetables and limited pellets

Love to dig, chew, jump and run

Straw shavings and nesting box

Rabbits

Common Medical Issues

Easily stressed which can cause sickness and/or death

Ear mites

Fly strike

Abscesses

Rabbits- Life as a commodity

Overcrowded

Fight injuries that are not cared for

Poor nutrition and health care

Wire floors

Rabbits

rabbits

Rabbits

Hatcheries

No oversight from Federal or State Governments

State Cruelty Laws

Agricultural Exemptions

Hatcheries

Cal-Cruz Hatchery, Santa Cruz, CA

Approximately 4-5 times a year chicks arrive dead at destinations

Undercover Investigation by AR group

Santa Cruz Shelter Investigation

Hatcheries

Hatcheries

Hatcheries

Hatcheries

Hatcheries

Hatcheries

Hatcheries

Report Filed with District Attorney’s Office

DA declined to file charges

AR group sued Hatchery under Business and Professions Code

Hatchery forced to go out of business

38 ducks rescued

Slaughterhouse

Humane Slaughter Act and State Ordinances

Captive Bolt gun, firearm or stunning device

Religious exemptions to laws

Improper/Illegal Slaughter

Custom Slaughterhouse in Watsonville

I was present to ensure humane slaughter

Warning- GRAPHIC

Custom sheep slaughter

Custom sheep slaughter

Custom sheep slaughter

Custom sheep slaughter

Custom sheep slaughter

custom sheep slaughter

custom sheep slaughter

custom sheep slaughter

Charged with State Code for illegal slaughter (did not render animal insensible to pain)

Went to trial

California State Veterinarian testified against the Animal Shelter

Slaughterhouse claimed religious exemption

Large Scale Seizures

Document with wipe off board and photographs

Document animals with collars or wound spray

Identify each animal by letter or number

Document their daily recovery while in your care (weight, photos, stools, etc)

Lessons Learned

Society DOES NOT view farmed animals in the same ways as dogs and cats

You need to understand your local political climate

You must be ready to be personally attacked

You will be forging new ground to provide legal protections for ALL animals

Lessons Learned

Farmed animals form close familial and friendship bonds with each other

Farmed animals want safety and freedom from suffering

Farmed animals have personalities, feel pain and can suffer mental abuse

Farmed animals deserve to have Animal Control Officers on their side

It will not be easy for you or your Agency

Animal Control Officers

Animal Control Officers MUST begin enforcing laws for farmed animals

Animal Control Officers ARE the front line protectors of animals in their jurisdictions

We can work cooperatively with:

USDA- Animal and Plant Health Inspection service (APHIS)

State Department of Agriculture

Questions

Officer Todd StosuyField Services ManagerSanta Cruz County Animal ShelterAsa235@co.santa-cruz.ca.us831-454-7254